Locking closure device for vials and the like



Oct. 4, 1966 L. A. CALDWELL 3,275,612

7 LOCKING CLOSURE DEVICE FOR VIALS AND THE LIKE Filed March 26, 1965 ii/5 2 PATENT AGENT United States Patent 3,276,612 LOCKING CLOSURE DEVICEFOR VIALS AND THE LIKE Lorne A. Caldwell, 328 W. 2nd St., Cornwall,Ontario, Canada Filed Mar. 26, 1965, Ser. No. 442,944 9 Claims. (Cl.215-9) This invention relates to a locking closure device for vials,bottles and the like.

This invention is particularly related to a locking closure deviceadapted for use on vials, bottles and other containers which are used tocontain potentially poisonous substances. Where such substances are usedin the home, it is very desirable to have the substances in a containerwhich is very difficult or impossible for young children to open.

Attempts have been made in the past to provide for bottles and vial-scaps or covers which are fastened to the bottle or vial in such a mannerthat young children could not remove the cap or cover but adults couldreadily remove the cap or cover. For example, it is known to use a screwtop closure which closes very tightly and requires some force to loosenor open. For another example, it is known to have a resilient snap-oncap of plastic material which may be pressed over a retaining ridge onthe rim of a bottle or vial and which requires a good force applied tothe edge of the cap to remove the cap. 1

None of the prior art safety closure devices have been entirelysatisfactory. Some of the closure caps have been difficult for adults toremove because of the force required. Various of the prior art closurecaps ae capable of being removed by yound children who have, onoccasion, made diligent use of teeth, fingers and other availableobjects to intentionally or inadvertent-1y remove a closure cap from avial or bottle.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide for vials and thelike a locking closure device which is difficult or impossible for youngchildren to remove.

It is another object of this invention to provide for use on vials andthe like a safety closure device of an uncomplicated design having fewparts which may be easily opened or closed by adults.

These and other objects and advantages will be apparent from thefollowing description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings in which:

, FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of a bottle and a closure cap inaccordance with the invention,

' FIGURE 2 is an exploded view, partly in section, showing the bottleand the component parts of the closure cap of the invention,

FIGURES 3, 4 and are views taken respectively along lines 3-3, 4-4, and5'5 of FIGURE 2,

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view of a portion of the bottle and the closurecap in its unlocked position,

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view of a portion of the bottle and the-closurecap in its locked position, and

FIGURE 8 is a side view of a portion'of the closure device in analternative embodiment of this invention.

Briefly, the invention is for a locking closure device for vials and thelike having an opening defined by a rim and being provided with aplurality of bayonet lugs.

The device comprises a cap for the vial having a top and a dependingskirt with a mating bayonet slot for each bayonet lug. The wallsdefining each said slot form at the terminating end thereof a retainingportion. A stem member passes through an aperture in the top of the capmaking sliding engagement with the walls of said aperture. A head is onone end of said stem member and a base on the opposite end. The base ispositioned in 3 ,Z76,61Z Patented Oct. 4, 1966 the region of the capdefined by the skirt. One side of the base is adapted to engage the rimof the vial and the other side is provided with a plurality of ramps.The interiorly facing surface of the top is provided with a matingrecess for each ramp on the base, and each such recess is separated fromthe adjacent recess by a flat part of the top. Thus the stem member,with head and base, may be positioned in a first position with the rampson the base received in the respective recess in the top or may bepositioned in a second locking closure position where the peaks of theramps each engage an opposing flat part of the top.

In the first position, the cap may be moved so that the bayonet lugstraverse the respective bayonet slot, while in the second position thebase engages the rim of the vial so that, when the cap is on, thebayonet lugs are in the retaining porion of the respective bayonet slotand the base bears against the rim to prevent the bayonet lugs frombeing moved from the retaining portion and thus keep the cap in thatposition.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGURES 1 and 2, avial or bottle 10 is shown having a rim 11, and also having bayonet lugs12 spaced at equal distances around the rim 11. Three lugs 12 are shownin the depicted embodiment. A cap 14 is the closure for the vial. Thecap 14 has a top 16 and a depending skirt 15. The top 16 is providedwith a central aperture 17 and a recess 18 in the outer surface thereof.The aperture 17 has walls which define a circular portion 20 and afan-shaped keyway portion 21 which extends over a little less than onethird of the circumference of the circular portion. The aperture 17 isclearly shown in FIGURES '4 and 5.

The skirt 15 of cap 14 has three bayonet slots 22 for receiving thebayonet lugs 12 in a well known manner. Each bayonet slot 22 isapproximately in the shape of an inverted J and has a longitudinallyextending portion 23 with an open lug-receiving end, a lateral portion24 and a retaining portion 25 at the end of the lateral portion 24substantially as shown, for example in FIGURE 6. When the cap is beingplaced on the bottle, the slots 22 are fitted over lugs 12 so that thelugs 12 first traverse the longitudinal portion 23, then the lateralportion 24 and are positioned in the retaining portion 25. The cap 14has, passing through aperture 17, a stem member 26 having a longitudinalkey 27 extending along one side. This is best seen in FIGURE 2. The key27 is received by the. keyway portion 21 of aperture 17. The stem member26 makes a slidingengagement with the walls of aperture 17 which permitslongitudinal movement of the stem member 26 within the aperture androtational movement as limited by the travel of key 27 in keyway portion21.

A head 28 is provided on the end of stem member 26 which extendsexteriorly of cap 14. The head 28 may be integral with stem member 26 orit may be secured to stem member 26 by cement or any other suitablemeans. The head 28 is provided With a slot 30 diametrically across itsupper surface. The slot 30 is conveniently wide enough to receive theedge of a penny, and preferably is wide enough to receive the edge of apenny allowing some free play. The slot 30 also preferably has a curvedconcave base which meets the top surface of the head substantially atthe outer edge of the head. The slot configuration will be referred tohereinafter.

On the opposite end of stem member 26 is a base 31. This is best shownin FIGURES 2 and 3. As shown, base 31 has a recess for receiving stemmember 26 whereby they may be secured together with cement or other Iadhesive. However base 31 and stem member 26 may be secured together byany suitable means or, depending on the manner of securing head 28, itis possible to form base 31 and stem member 26 integrally with oneanother. The base 31 has a rim engaging side to which may be secured agasket 32 (indicated in phantom) for effecting a good seal with the rimof vial 10. Base 31 has a ramp side opposite the rim-engaging side, andthis has three ramps 33. The ramp side of base 31 is shown in FIG- URE3. Each ramp 33 has a generally saw-tooth shaped profile. That is eachramp 33 has an inclined surface 34 and a flat peak 35. The trough orbase of the profile also has a flat portion. The underside of top 16 hasthree recesses 36 of a shape and position to receive the three ramps 33.The recesses 36 thus have troughs with a flat portion and a flat portionat the surface of the base. These flat portions on the base surfacewhich separate the recesses are designated as intermediate flat parts37. The recesses 36 in top 16 are indicated in dotted lines in FIGURE 2and are shown in FIGURES 5, 6 and 7, for example.

The operation of the closure device will now be described with referenceto FIGURES 6 and 7. Considering first the procedure followed whenplacing the closure cap on the bottle, the head 28 is rotated to theright until key 27 engages one limit of keyway portion 21 of aperture17. The head 28 may conveniently be rotated by inserting the edge of acoin in slot 30. As the head 28, stem member 26 and base 31 are securedtogether and move as a unit, the base 31 is positioned at acorresponding limit of rotational travel. The keyway portion 21, theramps 33 and the recesses 36 in the top are so positioned with respectto one another that, when the head is rotated to the right as described,the ramps 33 are in a position to be received in recesses 36 asindicated in FIG- URE 6. Because ramps 33 are in a position to bereceived in mating recesses 36, the unit comprising base 31, stem member26 and head 28 may be moved longitudinally outward as in FIGURE 6. Nowthe cap 14 is placed over the neck or rim of vial 10 with the bayonetlugs 12 entering the open end of portions 23 of bayonet slots 22. As thecap 14 is moved longitudinally towards the vial 10 the bayonet lugs 12traverse the longitudinal portions 23 of bayonet slots 12 to a positionsubstantially as indicated in FIGURE 6 with the rim of vial 10 pressingbase 10 outwardly so ramps 33 are received in respective recesses 36.The cap 14 may now be turned to the right and bayonet lugs 12 traversethe lateral portions 24 of slots 22. Once in this position the cap 14may be moved longitudinally outwards or away from vial 10 to positionbayonet lugs 12 in retaining portions 25 of bayonet slots 22.

In order to lock the closure device, head 28 is rotated to the left toits other limit of travel. Again this may conveniently be done using theedge of a coin in slot 30. As head 28 is rotated, and of course stemmember 26 and base 32 rotate with it, the inclined surfaces 34 of ramps33 bear against the corresponding inclined surfaces of recesses 36moving the base 31 towards the rim of vial 10. The rim-engaging side ofbase 31 bears against the rim of vial-10, and if a gasket 32 is providedit is pressed against the rim of vial 10 to form a seal. As the head 28reaches its limit of travel to the left, the ramps '33 move so thattheir flat peaks 35 bear against the fiat intermediate parts 37 of top16 substantially as shown in FIGURE 7. Thus the base 31 presses on oneside against the rim of vial 10 and on the other side, via the peaks 35,on the top 16. This presses the rim and the top in directionslongitudinally away from one another. The cap 14 therefore cannot bemoved towards the vial and bayonet lugs 12 are held in retainingportions 25 of bayonet slots 22.

It will be seen that the reverse procedure may be used to unlock andremove cap 14. Briefly, head 28 is rotated to the right, cap 14 ispressed towards vial 10, cap 14 is rotated to the left and may then beremoved.

It was previously mentioned that key 27 and the keyway portion 21 ofaperture 17 were arranged to limit the rotational movement of stemmember 26 with head 28 and base 31 to less than degrees, that is to thelocked position in one direction and to the unlocked position inthe'opposite direction of rotation. This is to remove any ambiguity inthe locked and unlocked positions which might occur, for example, if thetop closure could be locked in two positions.

In the manufacture of a locking closure device as described herein, itis preferable that the movement of the stem with head and base,particularly in the locked position, should be stiff rather than loose.Thus, the rimengaging side of base 31 (or gasket 32) should bear firmlyagainst the vial rim when the device is in its locked position. Thisreduces the possibility of a chance opening of the vial which mightoccur if the fit were loose.

It will be apparent that the number of bayonet lugs and correspondingbayonet slots is not critical, however, at least two are required.Similarly the number of ramps and corresponding recesses is notcritical. It is, however, desirable to have at least two.

If the safety feature is not of prime importance, the device may be madewith a head 28 that projects farther from the cap 14 in order that itmay be rotated by fingers to the locked or unlocked position.Alternately the key may be incorporated as an integral part of the head.However, when a slotted head 28 is used, an important safety feature isprovided because a key such as a coin is required to lock and unlock theclosure cap. It should be noted that the preferred construction is tohave the head 28 flush with cap 14 or projecting only slightly. Thisprevents the gripping of the head 28 with fingers to unlock the closurecap.

It should be noted that slot 30 may be made just wide enough to receivethe edge of a coin so that a coin can be used as a key. However, if theslot 30 is made a little wider than the edge of a coin, a coin may stillbe used as a key and it makes it very difficult, if not impossible, touse a fingernail as the 'key. This is particularly so with smallfingernails of children.

The use of a concave base to the slot 30, if the slot extends only tothe edges of the head or terminates short of the edges, will permit theuse of a coin or other article with a curved edge as a key. However thisconfiguration will not accept a straight edge as a key as the edge willnot go into the slot 30. This slot configuration may thus be used toreduce the number of keys that may be used to unlock the closure gap,and consequently may provide an additional safety factor.

An alternative embodiment of the invention is indicated in FIGURE 8. Inthis embodiment .the gasket 32 is mounted to the base 31 by a spring 40.The spring may comprise one or more turns of a relatively flat helicalspring. This embodiment may be desirable in some instances where thevial is intended to contain a liquid to ensure an even seal around therim of the vial. It will, of course, be apparent that the spring shouldnot affect the locking of the closure cap. That is, when the closure capis locked, the cap 14 should not be able to be moved towards the vial(compressing spring 40) sufficiently to permit the bayonet lugs to passthrough the lateral portions of the bayonet slots to release the cap.Consequently the distance betwen gasket 32 and base 31 when the closurecap is locked should be small compared to the distance the bayonet lugsare from the lateral portion of the bayonet slots.

It is believed that the locking closure device according to theinvention set forth herein provides a suitable closure for vials,bottles and the like which are used to contain potentially poisonoussubstances. The locking closure deviceis diflicult or impossible foryoung children to operate, and it is easily operated by adults.

Iclaim: 1. A locking closure device for vials and the like having anopening defined by a rim and being provided with a plurality of bayonetlugs, comprising a cap having a top and a depending skirt provided witha mating bayonet slot for each said bayonet lug,

the walls defining each said slot forming at the terminating end thereofa retaining portion,

said top of said cap having a central aperture,

a stem member passing through said aperture in sliding engagement withthe walls defining said aperture,

a head on one end of said stem member exteriorly of said cap,

a base on the opposite end of said stem member positioned within theregion of said cap defined by said skirt,

said base having a rim-engaging side and a ramp side provided with aplurality of ramps, the interiorly facing surface of said top beingprovided with a mating recess for each ramp on said base, each saidrecess being separated from the adjacent recess by an intermediate flatpart, the said stem member with head and base having a first retractedposition where the said ramps are received in the respective recesses insaid top and a second closure locking position Where the said ramps atthe peaks thereof engage the intermediate flat parts of said top.

2. A locking closure device for vials and the like having an openingdefined by a rim and being provided with a plurality of bayonet lugs,comprising a cap having a top and a depending skirt with a matingbayonet slot for each said bayonet lug,

each said slot having walls defining a l0ngitudinally extending portionwith an open lug-receiving end and winner end, a lateral portionextending transversely from said inner end, and a closed retainingportion at .the end of said lateral portion remote from said inner end,

said closed retaining portion extending a predetermined distanceparallel to and spaced lateral- -ly from said longitudinal portion,

said top of said cap having a central aperture,

a stem member passing through said aperture and making longitudinal androtational sliding engagement with the walls defining said aperture,

said stem member having a first end on the side of said top exteriorlyof said cap and a second end on the opposite side of said top within theregion defined by said skirt,

a head on said first end,

a base on said second end having a first rim-engaging side and a secondside provided with a plurality of ramps,

the interiorly facing surface of said top of said cap being providedwith a mating recess for each ramp on said second side of said base,said mating recesses being separated by intermediate flat parts of saidtop,

the said stem member, head and base having a first position where saidramps on said second side of said base are received in the recesses ofsaid top permitting the cap to be moved inwardly towards a vial androtated with said bayonet lugs traversing said lateral portions, and asecond position where the said ramps on said second side of said baseengage said intermediate fiat parts of said top holding the base apredetermined distance from said top for engaging with said first sidethereof a vial rim to retain each said bayonet ing in a respective oneof said retaining portions of said bayonet slots.

3. A locking closure device as defined in claim 2 and further includingmeans on said cap limiting the rotational movement of said stem memberwith head and base to said first position in one direction of rotationalmovement and to said second position in the opposite direction ofrotational movement.

4. A locking closure device as defined in claim 2 in which the aperturedefining walls of said top are formed to define a circular portion and afan-shaped keyway portion, and in which said stem member furtherincludes a longitudinal key passing through said fan-shaped keywayportion,

said key engaging the ends of said fan-shaped portion to limit therotational movement of the stem member within said aperture and the headand base to said first position in one direction of rotational movementand to said second position in the opposite direction of rotationalmovement.

5. A locking closure device for vials and the like having an openingdefined by a vial rim and being provided with a plurality of bayonetlugs spaced around said rim, comprising a cap having a top and adepending skirt with a mating bayonet slot for each said bayonet lug,

each said bayonet slot having walls defining a longitudinally extendingportion with an open lug-receiving end and an inner end, a lateralportion extending transversely from said inner end, and a closedretaining portion at the end of said lateral portion remote from saidinner end,

said closed retaining portion extending a prededetermined distancesubstantially parallel to and spaced laterally from said longitudinalportion, a

said top of said cap having a central recess in the outwardly facingside thereof and a substantially central aperture,

a stem member passing through said aperture and making longitudinal androtational sliding engagement with the walls defining said aperture,

said stem member having a first end extending towards said outwardlyfacing side of said top and a second end extending towards the oppositeside of said top into the region defined by said top and said skirt,

a head on said first end having a size to fit within said recess in saidtop of said cap with the outer surface of said head substantially flushwith the adjacent portion of said top,

a base on said second end having a first rim-engaging side and a secondopposite side facing said top and provided with a plurality of spacedramps,

the interiorly facing surface of said top of said cap being providedwith a mating recess for each said ramp on the second side of said base,said mating recesses being separated by intermediate flat parts of saidtop,

the said stern member, with head and base, having a first position wheresaid ramps on said second side of said base are positioned to bereceived in :the mating recesses in said top permitting the cap to bemoved inwardly towards said vial and rotated with said bayonet lugstraversing said lateral portions, and a second position Where said rampsengage said intermediate flat parts of said top holding the base apredetermined distance from said top for causing engagement between saidfirst side of said base and the rim of the vial to retain each bayonetlug in a respective one of said retaining portions of said bayonetslots.

6. A closure device as defined in claim 5 in which the outward surfaceof said head is provided with a diametrically extending slot having acurved concave base, said base meeting said outward surfacesubstantially at the edges thereof.

7. 'A closure device as defined in claim '5 in which the ramps have aninclined surface and a flat peak, said peak of each said ramp engagingan opposing intermediate flat part of said top in said second positionof said stem member with head and base. I

8. A closure device as defined in claim and further including a gasketof resilient material secured to said firstside of said base for sealingengagement with said rim of said'vial.

9. In combination with a vial having a neck portion terminating in a rimdefining a vial opening and having a plurality of outwardly projectingbayonet lugs evenly spaced around said neck portion adjacent said rim, aclosure cap comprising a cap top and a depending skirt provided withmating bayonet slots for said bayonet lugs,

the walls defining each said bayonet slot forming at the terminating endof said slot a lug retaining portion,

said top having a central cylindrical recess in the outwardly facingside thereof and a substantially central aperture therethrough ofsmaller crosssection than said recess,

a stem member passing through said aperture and making slidingengagement with the walls defining said aperture,

a headon said stem member on the end thereof projecting to the outwardlyfacing side of said top having a substantially cylindrical form of asize for fitting within said cylindrical recess,

i a; base on the end of said stem member opposite to said head having afirst side facing said top and a second side opposite said first side,

said base being located in the region defined by said skirt,

three ramps formed on the said first side of said base, evenly spacedaround the outer portion thereof,

each said ramp having a generally saw-tooth shaped profile with a flatportion in the trough and a flat portion at the peak,

the interiorly facing surface of said top of said cap being providedwith a mating recess for each said ramp having a flat portion in thetrough and a flat portion at the base surface intermediate the matingrecesses, a resilient sealing gasket mounted .to said second side ofsaid base, 7 spring means secured to said base urging said gasket awayfrom said base, retaining means limiting the travel of said gasket to apredetermined distance from said base,

said stem member with said head and base having a first position wheresaid ramps are opposite said mating recesses in said top for receptiontherein permitting the cap to be moved inwardly towards the vial androtated with the bayonet lugs traversing the bayonet slots, and a secondposition Where the flat portions at the peaks of said ramps engage theflat portions at the base surface intermediate said recesses holding thebase a predetermined distance from said top and pressing said gasketfirmly against said rim of said vial to retain said bayonet lugs in thelug-retaining portions of said bayonet slots, and means limiting therotational movement of said stem member with head and base to said firstposition in one direction of rotational movement and to said secondposition in the opposite direction of rotational movement.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,016,224 10/1935 Bukolt 2204O 3,072,276 1/1963 Nichols 2159 3,164,277 1/1965 Reading215-9 FOREIGN PATENTS 20,634 9/ 1897 Great Britain.

JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

D. F. NORTON, Assistant Examiner.

9. IN COMBINATION WITH A VIAL HAVING A NECK PORTION TERMINATING IN A RIMDEFINING A VIAL OPENING AND HAVING A PLURALITY OF OUTWARDLY PROJECTINGBAYONET LUGS EVENLY SPACED AROUND SAID NECK PORTION ADJACENT SAID RIM, ACLOSURE CAP COMPRISING A CAP TOP AND A DEPENDING SKIRT PROVIDED WITHMATING BAYONET SLOTS FOR SAID BAYONET LUGS, THE WALLS DEFINING EACH SAIDBAYONET SLOT FORMING AT THE TERMINATING END OF SAID SLOT A LUG RETAININGPORTION, SAID TOP HAVING A CENTRAL CYLINDRICAL RECESS IN THE OUTWARDLYFACING SIDE THEREOF AND A SUBSTANTIALLY CENTRALLY APERTURE THERETHROUGHOF SMALLER CROSSSECTION THAN SAID RECESS, A STEM MEMBER PASSING THROUGHSAID APERTURE AND MASKING SLIDING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE WALLS DEFININGSAID APERTURE, A HEAD ON SAID STEM MEMBER ON THE END THEREOF PROJECTINGTO THE OUTWARDLY FACING SIDE OF SAID TOP HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLYCYLINDRICAL FORM OF A SIZE FOR FITTING WITHIN SAID CYLINDRICAL RECESS, ABASE ON THE END OF SAID STEM MEMBER OPPOSITE TO SAID HEAD HAVING A FIRSTSIDE FACING SAID TOP AND A SECOND SIDE OPPOSITE SAID FIRST SIDE, SAIDBASE BEING LOCATED IN THE REGION DEFINED BY SAID SKIRT, THREE RAMPSFORMED ON THE SAID FIRST SIDE OF SAID BASE, EVENLY SPACED AROUND THEOUTER PORTION THEREOF, EACH SAID RAMP HAVING A GENERALLY SAW-TOOTHSHAPED PROFILE WITH A FLAT PORTION IN THE TROUGH AND A FLAT PORTION ATTHE PEAK, THE INTERIORLY FACING SURFACE OF SAID TOP OF SAID CAP BEINGPROVIDED WITH A MATING RECESS FOR EACH SAID RAMP HAVING A FLAT PORTIONIN THE TROUGH AND A FLAT PORTION AT THE BASE SURFACE INTERMEDIATE THEMATING RECESSES, A RESILIENT SEALING GASKET MOUNTED TO SAID SECOND SIDEOF SAID BSE, SPRING MEANS SECURED TO SAID BASE URGING SAID GASKET AWAYFROM SAID BASE, RETAINING MEANS LIMITING THE TRAVEL OF SAID GASKET TO APREDETERMINED DISTANCE FROM SAID BASE, SAID STEM MEMBER WITH SAID HEADAND BASE HAVING A FIRST POSITION WHERE SAID RAMPS ARE OPPOSITE SAIDMATING RECESSES IN SAID TOP FOR RECEPTION THEREIN PERMITTING THE CAP TOBE MOVED INWARDLY TOWARDS THE VIAL AND ROTATED WITH THE BAYONET LUGSTRAVERSING THE BAYONET SLOTS, AND A SECOND POSITION WHERE THE FLATPORTIONS AT THE PEAKS OF SAID RAMPS ENGAGE THE FLAT PORTIONS AT THE BASESURFACE INTERMEDIATE SAID RECESSES HOLDING THE BASE A PREDETERMINEDDISTANCE FROM SAID TOP AND PRESSING SAID GASKET FIRMLY AGAINST SAID RIMOF SAID VIAL TO RETAIN SAID BAYONET LUGS IN THE LUG-RETAINING PORTIONSOF SAID BAYONET SLOTS, AND MEANS LIMITING THE ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT OFSAID STEM MEMBER WITH HEAD AND BASE TO SAID FIRST POSITION IN ONEDIRECTION OF ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT AND TO SAID SECOND POSITION IN THEOPPOSITE DIRECTION OF ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT.